Type-writer.



No. 821,263. i Y PATENTED MAY l22, 1906. E'. P. SHBPARD.

TYPE WRITER.

APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 1s

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APPLICATION FILED DEG.15, 1904.

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4y fm@ MM To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

. UNITED srAjrEs,A PATENT OFFIOE.

FRANK P. ysI-IEPARD, OF EDMOND, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY, AssIGNOR To THE OLIVER TYPEWRI'IER COMPANY, OF'OHIOAGOILLINOIS, A OOR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TYPE-WRITER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iratenteoi may 22, 1906.

Application filed December 15,1904. Serial No. 236,974.

Beit known that I, FRANK P. SHEPARD, a

. citizen of theUnited States, residing at Edmond, in the county of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Territory, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writers and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Thisinvention pertains to the class of type-writers having a shift-key or shiftkeys for shifting the platen to' different positions for writing capital letters or other characters.

Preparatory to writing any letter or` forms a part of the regular bankof keys of the machine; but owing to the weight and consequent inertia of the platen and its attached parts and the non-elastic operative connection between said platen and shift-key the latter has an action much heavier than that of the other keys. Since the shift-key is usually operated by the fourth or Weakest finger of the hand, it is always annoying to operators having delicate or Weak fingers,while, on the other hand, persons with stronger fingers,

knowing the heavy action of the shift-key,

will attack it with too great force and throw the platen and its supporting parts with injurious force against the stops that limit the shifting movement of said platen.

The objects of the invention are to overcome the difficulties above named 5 and it consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

For carrying out the objects stated simple and inexpensive means have beenprovided by which the platen at each time that it is shifted from normal position is automatically locked in its shifted position and an Operative connection isarranged between the locking mechanism and the space-key and typekeys, whereby the stroke of said space-key or a type-key'following the actuation of a shift-key will release the locking mechanism and allow the platen to return to normal position in obedience to springs or other means.

key., As an additional means of providing the shift-key with an action or touch more.

nearly like that of the type-keys the operative connection between said shift-key and the parts which it shifts is made elastic, thus allowing the shift-key to be partially or fully depressed without movement of the platen and allowing the platen to complete its shifting movement as quickly as its insertia can be overcome by the elastic connection.

A type-writing machine containing the improvements described is shown by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of one of the type-writers in common use, taken on a line extending from front to rear of the machine near the center thereof. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of an -elastic connecting device applied between the shift-key and the shifting frame which carries the paper-carrie. e and platen. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of t e forward end of said connecting device, showingV changed positions of the parts thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the two shift-keys used on the machine shown, together with the associated parts. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the locking-bar-releasing plunger shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the guide-plate shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the supporting-bracket for the guide-plate. Fig. 9 is a detail central section taken through said releasingplunger, guide-plate, andsupportingbracket. Fig. l() is a detail plan section of the same parts, taken on line 10 10- of Fig. 9.

IOO

Io shaft 1 1 is mounted horizontally in the base 1 under the free ends of the type-key levers 7 and extending transversely thereof. Said rock-shaft has an upwardly-extending rigid arm 12, operatively connected with the shifting frame 2 by means hereinafter described.

Two shift-keys 13 and 14 are shown, which have connection with said rock-shaft. Two

helical springs 15 and 16 are applied between the base 1 and the shift-keys for rezo turning said shift-keys and the parts upon which they act to normal position. The

universal bar 8 forms one side of a substantially rectangular frame 17, which is mounted pivotally on the base 1 by pivots located The space-key lever 10 is operatively connected with said frame 17 by a hooked bolt 19, so that at each stroke of said spacekey 9 said universal bar 8 is depressed in the same manner as by the type-key levers 7.

O In place of the rigid connecting-rod heretofore employed to afford the necessary connection between the arm 12 of the `rock-shaft 11 and the shifting frame 2 for the platen and lcarriage the connecting-rod shown in 3 5 Fig. 2 is employed. Said rod has at its forward end an eye which engages the stud 21 of the rock-shaft arm l2 and at its rearend an eye 22, engaging a screw-stud 23, inserted in the shifting frame 2. Thisrod consists of a main portion 24, in the bifurcated end of which is pivoted a bell-crank lever 25 by a transverse horizontal ivot-pin, the longer depending arm of said ever 25 extending approximately at right angles to the portion 24 of the connecting-rod when in normal position. The shorter horizontal arm 26 rests between the free ends of two leaf-springsV 27 and 28, which are secured to the upper and lower faces of the portion 24. Said springs act to yieldingly hold said member 25 in its normal position with its depending arm 25 at right angles to the main part 24, and thereby normally holds the parts in position to maintain a normal distance between the eyes 5 20 and 22, which constitutes the effective length of the connecting-rod.

Either one of the shift-keys 13 or 14 may be depressed to its full depth instantly without waiting for the shifting frame 2 and the carriage and platen which it supports to complete their movement, the elastic connecting-rod assumin one of the positions shown in Figs. 3 an 4 against the force of one of the springs 27 and 28 and then drawing the shifting frame and attached parts lower end of said arm is attached pivotally to a horizontal rearwardly-extending locking-bar 30, Whose free end rests and slides in a guide-plate 32, attached to. a depending bracket 31, bolted to the under side of the base 1. lower part of the bracket 31, and said plate The said plate 32 extends below the.y

has in its lower part aA slot 33 to loosely receive the bar 30, said plate 32 being arranged vertically and secured to the bracket 31 by the two screws 34. ,The locking-bar 30 is drawn or ressed upwardly against the upper side of t e slot 33 by means of a helicalspring 35, which is attached to said bar near its forward end and is hooked over the axis portion 18 of the frame 17. Said bar 30 is provided near its free end with forwardly and rearwardly facing locking-shoulders 36 and 37, adapted to engage the plate 32 at the top of the slot 33 when the bar is thrown to the forward or rearward limit of its endwise movement. An unlocking-plunger 38, which is shown separately by Fig. 6, is hung pivotally between two lugs 39 upon the under side of the universal bar 8. The lower end of said plunger is bifurcated, and its prongs slide on the front and rear faces of the guideplate. Said guide-plate has at its upper edge a guide-slot 40, which receives the lower end of the plunger and holds the lower end of the same fromlateral movement. The forward face of the bracket 31 isvertically grooved to form a recess behind the guideplate 32, in which the rear prong of the plunger 38 may freely move.

When one of the shift-keys is depressed and revolves the rock-shaft 11 for shifting the platen, the arm 29 moves the locking-bar 30 endwise in the slot'33 until one ofthe shoulders 36 or 37 is lifted into engagement with the plate 32 in obedience to the tension of the spring 35. Then at the first following depression of the space-bar or one of the typekeys the universal bar 8 is depressed, and with it the plunger 38, the lower end of which strikes the bar 30 and releases the shoulder thereof from its locking engagement with the plate 32. The shifting-frame and plates then return to normal position under the action of one of the helical springs 15 and 16.

Althou h the locking-bar 30 is released from its ocking engagement on the downward movement or stroke of the type-keys and the platen is thus released for returning to its normal position before the printing stroke of the type occurs, owing to the high 'speed that'the type has gained at the time the release occurs and the slow movement of the platen in starting to return, the type will IOO IIO

strike in the proper position and will form a printed line having no noticeable errors-in alinement. The use' of the parts described Vdoes not interfere in any way with the operation of the levers, hooks, or other devices heretofore used upon like machines for locking the shift-keysdown when desired.

The main portion 24 of the connecting-rod and thebell-crank lever 25 thereof constitute, in .eect, two pivotally-connected members which are held yieldingly in angular relation to each other by a spring or springs, so that the effective length of rthe connecting-rod may be changed or varied by movement of the outer ends thereof toward or from each other, and .inasmuch as such yielding construction in the connecting-rod may be produced without the employment of the bellcrank lever 2 5 as one part or member of said rod, but will be produced when said rod consists of `two 4pivotally-joined members which are held bya spring or springs yieldingly in angular relation, I do not wish to be limited to the use of a bell-crank lever asone member of said rod except so far as the same may be herein speciiically claimed as ase'parate and distinct improvement.

With respect to the automatic locking means for holding the shifting frame temporarily in its shifted position vit vwill be observed that what has hereinbefore been called the guide-plate 32y constitutes, in effect, a stationary locking member which coacts with the locking-bar 30 and that said stationary locking member need not necessarily have .the form of a guide-plate, which also acts as a guide for the plungerSS; but said locking `member may be variously arranged in practice, so that it may properly coact with said locking-bar, and a suitable guide or guiding means for the lowerend of the plunger 38 may also be variously formed or arranged without departure from my invention.

I am acquainted with the mechanism shown inA Letters Patent No. 504,713 by which the shift-key is locked down at each depression and released by the following stroke of a type-key or the space-key; but the mechanism shown in said patent must be adjusted to lock exactly at the time that the platen completes its shifting movement, else it will fail to lock or will lock too soon and allow the platen to drop back slightly toward normal position, where it will not receive the impression of the type in the proper placeto form a printed line in perfect alinement. To

`avoid the necessity of accurate adjustment of the locking parts and as a means of giving to the shift-key an action or touch more nearly like that of the type-keys and keeping the platen from being thrown violently against the stops that limit its shifting movement, I

provide an elastic operative connection between said platen and a movable actuating member (the rock-shaft 11 of the drawings) which is operated by the shift-key and connects the platen-lockingjdevice with said ating member to take place without regard to the movement lof the shifting-frame, which latter is allowed to complete its shifting movement as `soon as its inertia can be overcome by the elastic connection, which' may be after the movableactuating vmember has been shifted andlocked in its shifted position.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen,`keylevers, a shifting frame and a shift-key,fof a movable actuating member which is operated by the shift-key, an elastic connection between'said movable actuating member and the shifting frame, means for locking the said movable actuating member in its shifted position, and means operated by the key-levers for releasing the said movable l actuating member and permitting the same,

together with the shifting frame, to return to their normal positions.

2. In a type-writer, the Vcombination with a platen, key-levers, a universal bar, a shifting frame and a shift-key, of a movable actuating member which is operated by the shiftkey, anlkelastic connection between said movableA actuating member yand` the, shifting frame, locking means for, holding the said movable actuating member in its shifted position, and means operated by the universal bar for releasing the said movable actuating member.

' 3. In a type-writer, thel combination with a platen, key-levers, a universal bar, a shifting frame and a shift-key, .of a movable actuating member which is operated by the shiftkey, an elastic connection between said mov- IOO able actuating member `and the shiftingV frame, locking means for the said movable actuating member vembracing an endwisemoving locking-bar which is connected and moves with the said movable actuating member and is provided with a locking-shoulder, a stationary locking member coacting with said bar, a spring acting on the locking member to throw it into its locking position, and a releasing member connected with the universal bar and acting on the locking member to release the same.

4. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen, key-levers, a universal bar, a shifting frame and a shift-key, of almovable actuating member which is operated by the shiftkey, an elastic connection between said movable actuating member and the shifting frame, a horizontally-arranged locking-bar which is-connected and moved with the said movable actuating member, said locking-bar being provided with a locking shoulder, a

'stationary locking member coacting with said locking-bar, a lifting-spring acting on said bar to throw its shoulder into engagement with the locking member, and a releasing-plunger connected and moving with the universal bar and which acts on the lockingbar to depress the same and release its locking-shoulder Jfrom said locking member. y

5. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen, key-levers, a universal bar, a shifting frame and a shift-key, of a rock-shaft which is turned by the shift-key and is provided with a rigid arm-having elastic connection with said shifting frame7 locking means for said rocking shaft embracing a rigid arm on said shaft, a locking-bar pivoted to said arm and provided with a locking-shoulder, a

\ stationary locking member coacting with said locking-bar7 a spring acting on the locking-bar to effect engagement of the lockingshoulder thereon with said locking member, and a releasing-plunger connected and moving with the universal bar and acting on said locking-bar to release the same from said stationary locking member.

6. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen,` a shifting frame, and a shift-key, of

a connection between the said shift-key and the shifting frame embracing an endwise eX- pansible and contractible connecting-rod consisting of'two pivotally-connected members arranged in angular relation to each other, and a spring applied to yieldingly hold the outer ends of said ymembers at a certain distance apart, whereby the effective length of the connecting-rod may be changed by the yielding of said spring.

7. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen, a shifting Jframe adapted to move in opposite directions from its normal position and two shift-keys, of a connection between the said shift-keys and the shifting frame embracing an endwise eXpansible and contractible connecting-rod consisting of two pivotally-connected members arranged in angular relation to each other, and two springs applied to yieldingly hold the outer ends of said members from spreading apart -or moving toward each other, whereby the effective length of the connecting-rod maybe increased or decreasedby the yielding of one or the other of said springs.

8. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen, a shifting frame and a shift-key, of a connection between said shift-key and the shifting frame embracing an endwise expansible and contractible connecting-rod consisting of two pivotally-'connected members one of which has the form of a bell-crank lever, and a spring applied to one of said members and acting on one arm of the bellcrank lever to yieldingly hold the other arm of said bell-crank lever in a certain angular relation to the other member, whereby the effective length of the connecting-rod may be changed by the yielding of said spring.

9. In a type-writer, the combination with a platen, a shifting frame, and a shift-key, of a connection: between the shift-key and shifting frame embracing an endwise eXpansible and contractible connecting-bar consisting of two pivot'ally-connected members one of which has the form of a bell-crank lever having one of its arms normally at an angle to the other member and its other arm parallel therewith and two flat springs acting on the opposite sides of the parallel arm of the bellcrank lever to yieldingly hold the other arm of said bell-crank lever in a certain angular relation to the other member of said rod, whereby the effective length of said rod may be increasedv by the yielding of one or the 'other of said springs.

C. R. DAY, J. H. HUBBLE. 

